In addition to camping, fall is for Apple Picking! Here in Northern Virginia we have a whole pile of options for picking our own pomaceous fruit. My family usually heads out to Markum Virginia to Stribling orchard, but there are plenty of options!
Hartland orchard is also conveniently located in Markum. Markum-Miller orchard is right outside of beautiful Winchester VA. There are plenty more, check out PickYourOwn.com for a full listing.
If you’ve never been apple picking you’re in for a treat. First, there is a HUGE pole involved. (My kids asked if we could joust with the other minivans pulling into the orchard. I had to reluctantly deny their request.) The pole is for picking apples that are way up high in the apple tree. There is something fascinating to kids, and maybe moms, about being able to reach an apple 10 feet over your head.
Notice the GIANT apple picking pole. They will only give you one, I tried.
Don’t worry if you don’t think that your kids, or you, can handle the apple picker, there are more than enough apples within even a 5-year-old’s reach to make the afternoon a success. Apple picking, unlike say raspberry picking, also goes super fast. You can easily fill up half a bushel in less than a half an hour. After that it’s back to the farm store to pay for your apples and maybe pick up a sweet treat for all of your hard work.
Well earned apple sticks after picking.
While your out there, don’t forget to stop at some of the dozens of Virginia wineries for some gown-up fun!
Sweet NoVa 